Fifty years ago on Tuesday, then president John F. Kennedy announced the creation of the Peace Corps. Don't believe me? Well maybe you'll listen to our mutual friend YouTube:
Pretty crazy. Especially when you think about how much has changed. Volunteers in the sixties legitimately had to say goodbye to their lives and families and pretty much go without contact for two full years. Meanwhile, here I am blogging for all of you while listening to an album that was released a couple months ago and snacking on pretzels dipped in Gulden's honey mustard, both of which I purchased in Choibalsan. Sheesh, when I put it like that I really sound like a cop-out.
Anyway, here's another interesting video about it:
"Backwards and depressed areas..." Ha!
On top of that, 2011 marks the twenty year anniversary of Peace Corps Mongolia. Pretty exciting time to be a Peace Corps volunteer anywhere, especially here. Although I'm a bit surprised by how little seems to be going on to celebrate these milestones. I guess all of us volunteers are all pretty far flung, so the summer would be the most practical time for Peace Corps Mongolia to celebrate, in which case such an event, were it to happen, probably hasn't been planned yet. I'll keep you all posted.
The last week has been fine, I suppose. Our heat wave came to an end, though the Eternal Blue Sky was merciful enough not to drop temps too far below zero, and it's supposed to get above freezing again toward the end of this week. I went to work and fed Jagaa and cleaned up her poo and skyped with Kaede and ate tuna melts and played DDR, believe it or not. I also worked on the creative writing competition I'm helping Kaede with. I'm surprised and pleased by how much interest it's generating here in Dornod. Let's hope we can keep it up.
Anyway, I guess that about does it. Don't forget to have a drink to JFK and Peace Corps on Tuesday! They're the reason I'm not unemployed or falling deeper and deeper into academic-related debt back in the states right now.
Pretty crazy. Especially when you think about how much has changed. Volunteers in the sixties legitimately had to say goodbye to their lives and families and pretty much go without contact for two full years. Meanwhile, here I am blogging for all of you while listening to an album that was released a couple months ago and snacking on pretzels dipped in Gulden's honey mustard, both of which I purchased in Choibalsan. Sheesh, when I put it like that I really sound like a cop-out.
Anyway, here's another interesting video about it:
"Backwards and depressed areas..." Ha!
On top of that, 2011 marks the twenty year anniversary of Peace Corps Mongolia. Pretty exciting time to be a Peace Corps volunteer anywhere, especially here. Although I'm a bit surprised by how little seems to be going on to celebrate these milestones. I guess all of us volunteers are all pretty far flung, so the summer would be the most practical time for Peace Corps Mongolia to celebrate, in which case such an event, were it to happen, probably hasn't been planned yet. I'll keep you all posted.
The last week has been fine, I suppose. Our heat wave came to an end, though the Eternal Blue Sky was merciful enough not to drop temps too far below zero, and it's supposed to get above freezing again toward the end of this week. I went to work and fed Jagaa and cleaned up her poo and skyped with Kaede and ate tuna melts and played DDR, believe it or not. I also worked on the creative writing competition I'm helping Kaede with. I'm surprised and pleased by how much interest it's generating here in Dornod. Let's hope we can keep it up.
Anyway, I guess that about does it. Don't forget to have a drink to JFK and Peace Corps on Tuesday! They're the reason I'm not unemployed or falling deeper and deeper into academic-related debt back in the states right now.
That "younger generation" is in their 70's and 80's now, if still living. Their grandchildren are carrying on the torch of bringing dedication and selflessness to the rest of the world. What a wonderful anniversary to celebrate. Thanks for sharing John.
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